Chap. 3r. An Expolition upon the Books of J o -a. Verf. 25. 533 I anfwer, lob doth not proteft againft all manner, nor againft all degrees ofJoy : for Firtt 'Tis naturall to manrorejoyce in that which is good, in any kinde ofgood ; as it is natural to man ( as man) todefire that which is good ; fo it is natural' toman (as man) to re- joyce in that which is good. foyes run to thefame length with de- firer. Secondly, We finde that God him felfe requires rejoycing not only in fpirituall, but even in outward good things. When the Lord commanded the Children of Ifrael to bring their facri- fices and holy offerings to the place which he fhould chufe to put his name there, even unto his habitation, he there required them not only to rejoyce in his fervice and in their foule-mercies, but in their riches and bodylymercies (Deus. 12. 5, 6, 7. ) There ye /hall eat before the Lordyour Cod , and you /hall réjoyet in all that you putyour hand unto,you andyour hou/bold, wherein the Lord thy Godbath bleffed thee.The things which-they put their handsunto, were their worldly labours and bufineffes, the Lords Hefting up- on thofe labours gave them an encreafe ofworldly wealth ; This bleffing they mutt receave and ufe with rejoycing, Thirdly , Joy in outward good things, is a part of that praife . and thankfuilnes ( and foof that worfhip) which is due andmuff be pay'd unto God. He reckons himfelfe di honoured and neg- le&ed, ifwe receave fo much as amorfell of bread with a foure face, or with a fallen fpirit; ea he would have us chearfull, and rejoyce in the leaft outward comforts, which he beftowes upon us. Now if it be a part of our duty to rejoyce in the fmalleft por.. tion oftemporal mercies, why doth lob fo earneftly difclaime re- joycing in the greateft ? or wherein Both the fnfullnes of rejoy- cing in wealth, in great wealth coni(t? I anfwer, rejoycing in worldly wealth, great or little, is lot good. Firft When we fo rejoyce in it, as that we fit downe, acgoi effe and reft in it ; All rafting joy in the creature is a moving or going away fromGod. Such was the joy ofthe rich man (Lal¿e 52.19.) who when his groundsbrought forth plentifplly; and he had prepared great barnes tobellow his fruits and goods in, fa}'d to his foule, Thou haft tonchgoode laid up for manyyear", take. thine vile, eat, drinke andbe merry ; fir downe here, thouart Wel- theta :
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